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Tensions Escalate Between Argentina And UK Over Malvinas Islands

Foreign Secretary William Hague has commented that the commemorations to mark the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict (Spanish: Malvinas Islands) would proceed as planned, and there is nothing provocative about it. The deployment of Prince William and the Royal navy’s most powerful warship HIMS Dauntless to the South Atlantic Ocean, has been viewed by some as an aggressive step.

Meanwhile, Argentina has received the backing of Latin American countries for its claim of sovereignty over the remote islands of Malvinas, which was occupied by Britain in 1833. Argentina seized the island in a 74-day war in 1980s that killed 649 Argentines and 255 Britons. However, UK was able to retake the islands. The 8 member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance (ALBA) agreed to bar any ships flying the flag of Falkland Islands, from docking in their ports. President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez and Ecuador have also shown concern on the issue of Malvinas Islands and have threaten to join Argentina while the President of Ecuador proposed stronger measures.

Recently, diplomatic wrangling escalated between Argentina and Britain when UK ordered oil explorations in the waters near the islands in 2010. The exploration groups, such as Desire Petroleum, have been actively drilling since then. According to a report of US Geological Survey, the seas around the islands contain 17 billion barrels of oil.